Under the hood, the 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder engine develops 180 PS (178 horsepower) and 250 Nm (184 pound-feet) of torque. That’s enough to dispatch from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.7 seconds while top speed is claimed at 225 km/h (140 mph). Can you imagine going that fast in an A-segment city car? That’d be terrifying!
The thing is, the 70th Anniversary feels better in the twisties, driven as hard as possible. The limited-slip differential, Sport mode for the throttle response, and three-pedal setup tick all the right boxes, and if you were wondering, the 595 Competizione can even be had with a soft-top roof.
Pricing in the United Kingdom for RHD models is £21,795 for the hard top and £23,795 for the convertible. Let that sink in for a minute, then remember how much the Clio RS and Fiesta ST cost. The Renault is £24,295 for the Clio RS 18 special edition while the Ford retails at £22,450 for the Fiesta ST-3.
The 70th Anniversary range also includes the 124 Spider, the two-seat roadster with Mazda MX-5 underpinnings from Japan. Also new for 2019 is the Esseesse nameplate, which returns with go-faster upgrades. The 17-inch Supersport wheels, bigger air filter, and Akrapovic exhaust are some of them, and like the Competizione, this version also gets Brembo brakes and a limited-slip differential.
To commemorate the brand’s anniversary in style, even the entry-level 595 and mid-range 595 Turismo feature exclusive badging. Pricing for these models starts at £16,495 and £19,695 in the UK.
